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  1. Mort

    D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

    Because humanoids are not all that different and tend to function in similar ways regardless of distance, at least that's the theory. Depends on the situation or scenario, but they're not that hard to come by. I don't, but if not, there is probably a guy with a horse/camel/dogslead who for...
  2. Mort

    D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

    They don't get or NEED contacts around the world, that's not what the background does. It simply allows the PC to recognize and have a knowledge of criminal organizations so they can use them to send messages - without getting robbed/roughed up/killed as would happen to someone without the...
  3. Mort

    D&D General A glimpse at WoTC's current view of Rule 0

    My brother in law used a deep Frier for the Turkey this year. Between that and mashed potatoes with, shall we say, an impressive butter to potato ratio, I'm surprised I'm not still sleeping!
  4. Mort

    D&D General A glimpse at WoTC's current view of Rule 0

    Uh oh, thread necromancy. Though it's not too old, so more of a revivify than a raise dead!
  5. Mort

    D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

    But that's not what it says - so that's an easy one! And here's the "why not" question. all it allows you to do is get a message to your contact, whether that will be of real benefit - that's not what the feature does. ALL it says is, criminal organizations tend to be similar and a true...
  6. Mort

    D&D General Just sweeping dirty dishes under the rug: D&D, Sexism, and the '70s

    Much as I would hope otherwise (that people could "get it") I don't think the general marker (even the general gaming market) could handle literature where the humans lose significantly, or worse, are shown to be the bad guys.
  7. Mort

    D&D General Dark Sun as a Hopepunk Setting

    I think this would be a great way to present Dark Sun. The little experience I've had with it was "hopeless PCs in a hopeless world..." which was just too depressing for me - no thanks. And powerful PCs working for a powerful sorcerer king rooting out rebellion - which while actually fun for a...
  8. Mort

    D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

    So the trick here is to recognize where you (the general you) have issues and make sure any abilities of the players take those issues into account and are modified accordingly (as was just done at the end there). Preferably in some way acceptable both to player and DM. The absolute worst...
  9. Mort

    D&D General Professor DungeonMasters Advice on DMing

    I like this advice with the (somewhat big) caveat that the GM must be extremely open to the players ideas and proposed solutions. Too often, GMs will only allow things to work that they had thought of themselves and it devolves into guess what the DM is thinking: DM: Ok, how do you propose to...
  10. Mort

    D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

    Sure it does. Because D&D magic is easy (maybe a better term would be "consequence free") Designers keep piling on more and more magic, adventure writers use it as a crutch to have magic be the solution to many things in many modules. Even in world building too many professional and homebrew...
  11. Mort

    D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

    With most spells it's actually pretty easy - just don't allow spells to do more than they say they can do. WAY too many DMs are overly permissive with allowing spells to be multitools when they should be very specific. Granted this often goes out the window once high level is reached, spells...
  12. Mort

    D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

    The problem is many DMs over limit what non-magical stuff can do (see this thread and many more like it) while being extremely overly permissive with magic. This is compounded by the fact that, in D&D (5e or otherwise) Magic has very very few consequences. Caster casts the spell, stuff happens...
  13. Mort

    D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

    Can I just say how much I HATE, it's ok "because magic..." PC has a "mundane" ability that establishes they are part of something that has contacts nearly everywhere or at least can get to some contacts. DM first demands that it pass "the smell test.." then demands it not be too "improbable..."...
  14. Mort

    D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

    And let's not forget, in the context we are discussing (D&D and fantasy) it is quite possible that a deity or otherwise powerful being has taken a direct interest in the characters - which is NOT generally a good thing, and manipulates "fate" accordingly. For a truly great example of this see...
  15. Mort

    D&D 5E (2024) 3 Months in - Weapon Mastery

    I prefer physical dice but, for my online group, use the digital DDB ones so it's easy for everyone to see my rolls.
  16. Mort

    D&D 5E (2024) 3 Months in - Weapon Mastery

    DDB has been great for my online group - everyone's taken to it. Of the 6 players 4 like to roll on DDB and 2 insist on physical dice, which I don't mind (Though, for one of the players I jokingly tease him he may want to switch to digital dice, his physical dice roll, statistically...
  17. Mort

    D&D 5E (2024) 3 Months in - Weapon Mastery

    Yeah, it's been quiet. And this is the EXACT same ability that, in 4e (renamed, but still), caused a huge amount of upheaval and promises of rage quitting.
  18. Mort

    D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

    Extremely easy example: Silk from David Eddings Belgariad. Having contacts EVERYWHERE was one of his main schticks. And there was nothing implausible about it.
  19. Mort

    D&D 5E (2024) 3 Months in - Weapon Mastery

    To answer the actual OP. Players are really liking it so far. The barbarian player REALLY likes the addition.
  20. Mort

    D&D 5E (2024) 3 Months in - Weapon Mastery

    The classes that don't get it automatically have significant other toys and advantages. And if they really want, they can access weapon masteries by giving up a bit of resource (take a feat), which is nowhere near as painful as it used to be since you also get a stat bump (and dexterity fits...
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